THE HESS FAMILY IN AMERICA

HANS JACOB HESS

We find that in the beginning of our genealogy, that Samuel Hess, the first settler of our ancestors came from Zurich, Switzerland, and is supposed, through information of history, that this same Samuel, was an offspring of Hans Jacob Hess, who endured persecution in Switzerland, in the year 1639. We find in the English Martyr's Book, on page 1056, Hans Jacob Hess, with his wife, A.D. 1639, were among those who suffered, persecution in Switzerland.
There was Hans Jacob Hess, a chosen and confirmed minister of the Christian Church. He being imprisoned twice before, the first time, being in the year 1637. Some say he was imprisoned in the Convent Othenbach; others in the dungeons, and still others in the prison, etc. but it was evidently at Othenbach, a famous prison in Zurich. But the Lord beyond all expectation, had remarkably delivered him through the aid of those that were imprisoned, with him as also out of the third imprisonment. The first lasted nineteen days, the second eight weeks, the third eighty-three weeks or more than a year and a half.
But in the meantime, his wife was made very bitter and vexatious, for he was striped and together they were put in iron bonds, sixteen weeks, which nevertheless he patiently bore, with a steadfast mind until his deliverance. While this was taking place, namely in the same year, his wife also was apprehended, who was first imprisoned in the Council House, and then in Othenbach, where through bad treatment and unfit food and drink for sixty-three weeks, she was so impaired in her constitution and weakened that she was seized with consumption and after much suffering and misery died in prison.
The property of the said H.J. Hess was seized, by the authorities, who realized from the sale of it, 4000 guilders, without restoring anything of it to those who remained. A great injustice, how will they be able to account for this before the righteous judgment seat of Jesus Christ?

Taken from Hess family by John H. Hess, Lititz, Penn. 1896, p.241-2.

THE HESS FAMILY IN AMERICA

In the year 1712, a Swiss colony came to America and among them was Samuel Hess. The same settled at Pequea, Pennsylvania and had a large family. He was the first Hess of our generation in America. Hans or John Hess was a son of the first Samuel Hess, who came from Switzerland to America in the year 1712, and settled in Pequea, Pennsylvania. This same John resided in Pequea Township where he died in 1734, and was interred in the old graveyard near Baumgardner's Station, on the Lancaster and Quarryville R.R., his wife Magdalena was born in 1685 and is interred in the same place, alongside of her husband. Their union was blessed with eight children.
In 1734, one of the sons, namely, Jacob, of the second generation took up a tract of 200 acres of land, one mile east of Lititz, now called Warwick Township, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. One part of it is now occupied by Reverend Jonas H. Hess.

HANS JACOB HESS

Hans Jacob Hess and his wife, endured persecution in Switzerland in 1639. We find this in the English Martyr’s Book on page 1056. Hans, a chosen and confirmed minister of the Christian church, was imprisoned three times. The first in the year 1637 for nineteen days, the second for eight weeks, the third for a year and a half at Othenbach, a famous prison in Zurich. The Lord beyond all expectation, each time had remarkably delivered him through the aid of those that were imprisoned with him.
In the meantime, his wife was bound by iron bands together with her striped husband for sixteen weeks. She had also been imprisoned in the Council House and then in Othenbach, where through bad treatment and unfit food and drink for sixty-three weeks, her constitution weakened she was seized with consumption and after much suffering and misery died in prison.
The property of Hans was seized by the authorities and sold for 4000 guilders without restoring any of it to those who remained, a great injustice.

Taken from Hess family by John H. Hess, Lititz, Pennsylvania 1896 pp. 241, 242.


SAMUEL HESS

We find that in the beginning of our genealogy, that Samuel Hess was the first settler of our ancestors that came from Zurich, Switzerland in 1712. It is supposed that he was an offspring of Hans Jacob Hess of Switzerland.
Samuel settled in Pequea, Pennsylvania and had a large family. Hans or John Hess was a son died in Pequea in 1734 and was interred in the old graveyard near Baumgardner’s Station on the Lancaster and Quarryville R.R. His wife Magdalena was born in 1685 and is interred in the same place, alongside of her husband. Thieir union was blessed with eight children.
In 1734, one of the sons, namely, Jacob, took up a tract of 200 acres of land, one mile east of Lititz, now called Warwick Township, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania.